Isobutane

Other names: Isobutane, i-Butane, 2-Methylpropane, Methylpropane, E943b, R600a

Harm score: 4 (Slightly harmful chemistry)

Isobutane, also known by the names Isobutane, i-Butane, 2-Methylpropane, Methylpropane, E943b, or R600a, for example, is a chemical belonging to the aliphatic hydrocarbons. It is a colourless, pleasant-smelling gas that is abundantly soluble in fats but poorly soluble in water under normal conditions. Isobutane is resistant to water, acids and alkalis, is non-toxic and non-corrosive. Its production is usually from crude oil.

Isobutane finds a wide range of uses in a number of products and industries. It is one of the main components of natural gas and is also often used as a fuel in gas cartridges for cookers or as a propellant for aerosol sprays. Due to its cooling properties, it is also used as a refrigerant in refrigerators and air conditioners, and is often preferred for this purpose due to its low environmental burden. Another important sector is the food industry, where isobutane serves as a food additive with code E943b, a class of additives permitted in the European Union. Its role here is mainly to act as a balloon while preventing foam formation.